Classroom Tools & Resources Lesson Plans

Learners track and chart weather conditions. In this weather lesson, students use Internet, newspaper, and classroom weather resources to complete a weather tracking chart which they enter into a spreadsheet. They learn the units of measure and conversions for weather information such as temperature. They look for trends and relationships between weather elements.

Students examine primary sources to gain historical perspectives. In this historical analysis instructional activity, students analyze documents that their instructors have adapted to make more user-friendly. Example adapted primary documents are included.

Students examine the use of resources used by the school. They collect data regarding paper consumption, energy use, water use, and material consumption to investigate how much waste is created by the school. They make recommendation for school improvement.

Seventh graders create list of materials that family of four would need to live and survive in the forest, identify four natural resources used by Cherokee Indians to build shelter, create poster that depicts Cherokee hamlet in summer or winter, and define vocabulary words hamlet, palisade, wattle, and daub.

Students evaluate data related to population growth, along with problems and solutons: resources availability. They are able to conclue that some ecosystem resources are finite. Students are shown "Resources" powerpoint, students come up with defintions of vocabulary words based on pictures; discuss where in the world the most energy is used and compare energy consumption to population.

Students examine the effects of the loss of the bison after the Europeans arrived in North America. They conduct a demonstration using beans to demonstrate the difference between the number of bison before and after the arrival of the Europeans, and discuss current natural resources that are over-harvested.

Students explore that some resources are finite. They are able to deelop an understanding of commodities-some resources are worth more than others so companies choose to spend more money to find them. Students realize that some environmental damage may occur from recovery of resources. They are able to analyze the role of technology in resource acquisition. Students are able to conclude that predicting remaining reserves is problematic.

Seventh graders describe electrical energy and how it is produced. In this natural resource instructional activity, 7th graders explain the various ways of obtaining and using natural resources for energy and the environmental consequences. They will create a poster presentation of their explanations.

Natural resources are discussed in this lesson. Learners watch a PowerPoint about this topic. Next, they rotate through centers with information about natural resources, including trees, coal, natural gas, water, oil, the sun, and water. This activity could lead to a discussion of the environment and conservation.  

Students create a type of ball demonstrating how games reflect local resources. They observe photos of African children playing games with various items such as sand, shells or rocks. Then, working in teams, students make a ball from rags and twine.